A sturdy plot and a breathless finish.
Despite a successful career as a biotechnologist and a charming home in an affluent Chicago suburb, Claire Blackwood does not enjoy a picture-perfect life. Not only did her daughter die as the result of an indifferent and seemingly untouchable mega-corporation, but her beloved husband is languishing in a prison cell for a retributive murder that he did commit, and to top it all off, Claire is dying of an aggressive brain tumor. However, Claire has one final trick up her sleeve and it just might put her family back together. A thousand miles away, Malcolm Foster is wasting away, his physical body ravaged by ALS. With almost nothing to live for, an outrageous offer to travel through time and catch up with an old flame while preserving the natural timeline seems like an easy decision. Even if the opportunity means certain death. Malcolm’s love for history and the chance to once again taste independence bring him back into Claire’s life, but their future, and the known past, will defy expectation.
Imagine buckling into your family sedan for a trip to grab a quick cup of coffee. Only your ride turns out to be a limousine and your everyday caffeine fix ends up being a quad venti mocha latte with extra whip. Not what you were expecting, but undeniably way, way better. That is Past Lives to a tee! You start off with a desperate mother crushed by the weight of past injustices looking to go back in time and right a few wrongs. What you end up with is an action-packed and multifaceted historical fiction novel that covers more ground than a double marathon. The journey is seen through the eyes of many ‘hosts’ including the son of a king, an infamous pirate, and even a newborn baby. Each situation is unexpected and eagerly embraced as Claire and her partner build their own castles throughout the sands of time. Corporate greed and the ugly side of capitalism are pitted against the unrelenting march of time, and the ultimate victor in this matchup is up for grabs. With a sturdy plot and a breathless finish, it will be difficult to wait to see what Cloutier has in store for the next installment in the Past Lives Chronicles series. Inventive, engaging, and downright thrilling, Past Lives by Terry Cloutier is the beginning of your new favorite time travel saga.
